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Stage Set for Sochi Slopestyle Showdown

by

USSA

2014-02-06 12:17

The inaugural slopestyle snowboarding qualification kicked off the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi Thursday. Jamie Anderson (pictured) and Karly Shorr advanced straight to the finals after finishing second and fourth in their heat. (Getty Images/Cameron Spencer)

ROSA KHUTOR, Russia (Feb. 6) – The inaugural slopestyle snowboarding qualification kicked off the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi Thursday. Jamie Anderson (S. Lake Tahoe, CA) and Karly Shorr (Milford, MI) topped the competition for the USA, advancing straight to the finals after finishing second and fourth in their heat. The U.S. men and Canadian heavy-hitter Mark McMorris finished outside of the top four in their heats, setting them up for a cutthroat semifinal round where only the top four will advance to the 12-person final. The men’s semifinal and final are set for Saturday Feb. 8 with the women’s competitions scheduled for Sunday Feb. 9.

HIGHLIGHTS

The inaugural slopestyle snowboarding qualification kicked off the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi Thursday at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park.

Jamie Anderson (S. Lake Tahoe, CA) and Karly Shorr (Milford, MI) topped the competition for the USA, advancing straight to the finals after finishing second and fourth in their heat.

The U.S. men, including Chas Guldemond (Reno, NV), Ryan Stassel (Anchorage) and Sage Kotsenburg (Park City, UT) along with Canadian heavy-hitter Mark McMorris, all finished outside of the top four in their heats, setting them up for a cutthroat semifinal round where only the top four will advance to the 12-person final.

Jessika Jenson (Rigby, ID) also finished outside the top four, sending her to the women’s semifinal.

Team USA slopestyle snowboarder Ty Walker (Stowe, VT) is being treated for a heel contusion suffered on a flat landing off a rail in Tuesday’s training session. Walker did a simple run through the course without attempting to ride the rails or jumps during Thursday’s qualification round in order to advance to Sunday’s medal event. Team officials do anticipate she will compete on Sunday.

Shaun White (Carlsbad, CA) withdrew from the slopestyle snowboarding competition Wednesday in order to focus on the halfpipe snowboarding event.

The men’s slopestyle semifinal and final are set for Saturday Feb. 8 with the women’s competitions scheduled for Sunday Feb. 9.

QUOTESJamie AndersonEveryone has just been so confident and that is what it takes: believing in yourself, trusting your ability and doing your personal best.

Karly ShorrIt felt really good; it kind of stacks on top of itself. I started out strong on the rails and you just keep that momentum going. Once you get to that last jump there’s no way you’re not going to stomp it if you have everything going right up until that point.

I can’t wait for finals. I hope that these stands are full. I can’t wait to soak it all in. It’s such a good energy out there. Everyone is just trying to push women’s snowboarding as much as they can, and so many girls came out here and killed it. In the first heat, every single girl was throwing down their best tricks. A lot of times girls will play it safe, but not here, no one is doing that and it’s so cool to see.

Sage KotsenburgI was so stoked to put that one down. I had a little hand drag on the second jump, but I’m just going to send it a little more in my second run and hopefully stomp that one too.

Chas GuldemondEverything that we’ve done here is completely normal. It’s the second best course of the year compared to X Games, so I’m happy with it. Yeah, they did a good job.